It’s HIP to Be Healthy
March 21st, 2018 |
According to the CDC, obesity, diet-related disease, and physical inactivity account for 678,000 preventable deaths each year. Due to the lack of access to healthy food, many more people in low-income communities suffer from diet-related diseases like obesity and diabetes than those in higher-income neighborhoods.
To create a more vibrant and equitable food system for underserved communities, the Healthy Incentives Program (HIP) was created. HIP offers a 100 percent incentive —a dollar-for-dollar match—for each SNAP dollar spent on eligible fruits and vegetables at participating farmers’ markets, farm stands, mobile markets, and community-supported agriculture programs. In doing so, HIP is increasing access to fruit and vegetables for people who did not have it, diversifying farmers’ markets, and stimulating the local economy.
Partners from across the state are working to increase access to locally grown fruits and vegetables. JSI is documenting HIP implementation and is analyzing its effect on SNAP clients, retailers, and the economy in which they operate. Watch the video below to discover what they had to say:
